Combination implement for removing spots from fabric



Sept. 19, 1961 GRANADOS 3,000,202

COMBINATION IMPLEMENT FOR REMOVING SPOTS FROM FABRIC Filed Jan. 12, 1960Frank D. Granaoos INVENTOR.

United States Patent COMBINATION IMPLEMENT FOR REMOVING SPOTS FROMFABRIC Frank D. Granados, 2644 E St., San Diego, Calif., as-

signor of fifty percent to George D. Lang-Dale, San Diego, Calif.

Filed Jan. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 1,892 6 Claims. (Cl. 68-222) Thisinvention relates to improvements in implements for use in removingspots, or stains, from fabric in dry cleaning establishments, wherespotting is required on a spotting board.

The primary object'of the invention is to provide a time and laborsaving combination steam gun and brush for applying fluid cleaningagents to spots, or stains, and, or brushing the spots, or stains,according to requirements for removing spots of different kinds fromdifferent types of fabrics.

Another object is to provide a combination steam gun and brush for theabove purposes which is very simple in construction, durable, easy touse with one hand, will not slip out of the hand, and is adapted formanufacture at a low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described forming a part hereof,wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the combination steam gun and brushimplement in the preferred embodiment thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a similar View with the implement turned through an angle ofsubstantially 90 degrees;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view in cross section taken on the line 33 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view in cross section taken on the line 4--4 ofFIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of a nozzle partof the implement.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the combination steam gun andbrush of this invention comprises an elongate, preferably cylindricalbody 1 of light strong material, such as wood, and which forms a handle.The body 1 is formed with a half round, or semi-spherical, front endportion 3 providing a flat bottomed elongated recess 5 in said front endportion 3 at one side of the body 1.

A cap 7 of rubber, or like material, is sleeved over and suitably fixedon the rear end of the body 1 to prevent said body 1 from slippingforwardly in the hand grasping the body 1 between said recess 5 and saidcap 7 for using the body as a handle.

A brush 9 is attached to the front end portion 3 and which comprises arectangular block or back 11 of wood for bristles 13. The back 11 fitsflatly in the recess 5 and is detachably attached to said front endportion 3 by screws 15 with the bristles protruding outwardly beyondsaid body 1 at one side of the body.

A steam tube 17 extends longitudinally through the body 1 in the axis ofsaid body and through a longitudinal central groove 19 in the back 11and is rotatable in said body and has front and rear end portions 21, 23extending out of the body 1. The rear end 23 of the tube 17 is straightand adapted to be attached by a hose, not shown, to a suitable source,not shown, of steam or other cleaning fluid under pressure to issue outof the front end portion 21 of said tube. A set screw 25 in said body 1locks the tube 17 in differently rotated position in said body. The rearend 23 of the tube 17 is circumferentially grooved, as at 24, tofacilitate retaining a hose thereon.

3,000,202 Patented Sept. 19, 1961 ICC The front end portion 21 of thetube 17 is curved forwardly and laterally of the body 1 with anelongated, widened, flattened terminal nozzle 27 of oval cross sectionspaced outwardly beyond the body 1 and forwardly of the brush 9. Becauseof this arrangement, the tube 17 may be rotated in the body 1 toposition the nozzle 27 in angular relation, for example, a degreeangular relation, to said brush '9, or said tube 17 may be rotated inthe body 1 to position the nozzle in alignment with and forwardly of thebrush 9 and facing in the same direction as the brush 9.

When the nozzle 27 and brush 9 are positioned in angular relation toeach other, as shown in FIGURES l and 2, the body 1 may be slightlyrotated by a quick turn of the wrist to position the brush 9 and nozzle27 selectively in facing relation to a piece of fabric, not shown, foruse "alternately in spotting. When the nozzle 27 is positioned inalignment with the brush 9, the'body may be held in the hand and boththe brush 9 and nozzle 27 used in spotting, simultaneously, with thenozzle used for tapping the fabric if desired, in the usual manner.

The brush 9 when worn may be readily detached and replaced with anotherbrush. The bore or groove 19 is preferably rectangular in cross-sectionand somewhat larger than the cross-section of the tube 17. Better still,the tube is preferably mounted in rectangular sleeves or bushings 20fitted in the bore. With this construction air is permitted to circulateby way of the bore. Also, the tube is that spaced from the wall surfacesof said bore and undue heating of the handle is prevented.

The preceding description will, it is believed, sufiice to impart aclear understanding of the invention, without further explanation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An implement for use in spotting fabric comprising an elongatedlongitudinally bored body forming a handle turn-able about itslongitudinal axis by a hand grasping and turning the body, said bodyhaving a front end portion, a bristled brush embodying abristle-equipped back attached to said front end portion at one side ofthe body, and a steam tube extending axially through the bore in saidbody and rotatable therein with one end attachable to a source of steamunder pressure and having a front end portion terminating in a steamdischarge nozzle and being curved laterally of the body, said nozzlebeing of a length that the discharge end may be caused to project beyondthe free ends of the bristles, whereby in response to rotation of thetube in and relative to said body said nozzle may be swung to andpositioned in angular relation to the plane of the bristles of saidbrush or into alignment therewith in front thereof, so that in theangular position of the nozzle relative to the brush, said nozzle andbrush may be positioned selectively in facing relation to fabric by aslight rotation of said body for use of the nozzle and brushalternatively in spotting, whereas, in the aligned position of saidnozzle relative to said brush, said brush and nozzle may be usedsimultaneously in spotting.

2. An implement according to claim 1, said nozzle having a tip which isoval in cross section for use in tapping fabric in spotting.

3. An implement according to claim 1, said brush embodying a block-likeback provided with a central openended groove therein through whichcooperating portions of said tube extend in a manner to center the brushon said body when attaching'the brush.

4. The combination of claim 1, and wherein said body is cylindrical incross section, the forward end portion thereof being semi-circular incross section and defining a brush back accommodating and seatingrecess, the back of said brush being seated, fitted and secured to thesemicircular portion by way of the recess.

5. An implement according to claim 1, said body having a longitudinalbore non-circular in cross-section, noncircular bushings keyed againstrotation in said bore, said tube being circular in cross-section andfreely rotatable in said bushings, the latter providing suitablebearings.

6. For use in a dry cleaning establishment or the like, a manuallyusable spotting implement for fabric and the like comprising anelongated body generally circular in cross-section and providing ahandle which may be caught hold of and bodily turned fro-n1 left toright, tilted toward the fabric surface and otherwise manipulated, saidbody being circular in cross-section and the forward end thereof beingsemi-circular and providing a shouldered recess, said body beingprovided with an axial longitudinally extending bore opening through theforward and rearward ends of the body and non-circular in cross-section,a brush comprising a block-like back provided with lateral- 1yprojecting bristles, said back being fitted into the recess and having alengthwise groove aligned with the cooperating forward end portion ofthe bore in said body, noncircular bushings fitted in end portions ofthe bore, and an elongated tube circular in cross-section and of acrosssection less than the cross-section of the bore in said body andalso slightly less than the passage through the respective bushings,portions of said tube being mounted in the bushings, one end of the tubeprojecting beyond the inner end of the body to accommodate an attachablesteam supply hose, the other end of the tube projecting beyond theforward end of the bore and being laterally bent and terminating in anozzle, the laterally bent end and nozzle being turnable from left toright in the bushings so that the nozzle may be disposed in "a planeparallel to the plane of the free ends of the bristles, or in a positionat right angles to the plane of said bristles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FastisAug. 6, 1957

